Adjustable Fastener

ABSTRACT

A fastener comprises a length of non-elastic material having a first end and a second end; at least two apertures positioned along the length of said material; one or more fastening objects proximate said first end; said one or more fastening objects having at least a first profile and a second profile, wherein said first profile has a dimension sized to permit passage through said apertures and said second profile has a dimension sized to prohibit passage through said apertures. The fastener can bundle hair, or can be worn as a bracelet, choker or anklet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No.62/296,192 filed on Feb. 17, 2016, entitled “Adjustable Fastener.”

BACKGROUND

The embodiments described herein are generally directed to the field offasteners, and more specifically for fasteners used to style hair.

Known fasteners for bundling hair typically utilize an elastic loop thatcan be twisted to form additional loops for holding hair in a particulararrangement, such as a ponytail. The user feeds the hair through theinitial loop, pulls the elastic loop outwardly, twists the elastic toform a second loop, passes the hair to be captured though the secondloop, and repeats this process until arriving at a suitable amount oftension on the ponytail in order to maintain it in place. Sucharrangements however are difficult to use since they are not sized foran individual's particular needs. Further, the repeated twisting andtension placed on the elastic during use tends to degrade the fastenerquickly. The repeated twisting and pulling requires significant fingercontrol and strength not always present with users having impaireddexterity. Finally, the amount of required tension to maintain the hairin the desired position differs from individual to individual and cannotbe customized with precision using said known fasteners.

From the above, it is therefore seen that there exists a need in the artto overcome the deficiencies and limitations described above.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the embodiments described herein comprise a length ofnon-elastic material comprising a first end and a second end; at leasttwo apertures positioned along the length of said material; one or morefastening objects proximate to said first end; said one or morefastening objects having at least a first profile and a second profile,wherein said first profile has a dimension sized to permit passagethrough said apertures and said second profile has a dimension sized toprohibit passage through said apertures. In another aspect, saidnon-elastic material comprises fabrics, such as silk. Said apertures canbe positioned proximate to said second end, along the entire length, oralong less that the entire length of said fastener. It is another objectto use said fastener for a method of bundling delicate materials such ashair together, by creating a loop by passing at least one fasteningobject through an aperture; passing said hair bundle through said loop;pulling said fastening object until said fastener has secured said hairbundle to a desired tension. The remaining length of said fastener isthen wrapped about said hair bundle and secured by passing saidfastening object through a second aperture positioned close to theposition of said fastening object. The shortcomings of the prior art areovercome and additional advantages are provided because said fastener ismade of non-elastic fabric which prevents pulling, creasing, andbreakage of hair or other delicate materials and has multiple aperturesto provide superior adjustability and versatility of use as a headband,hair tie, anklet or bracelet.

Another embodiment is a method of fastening an accessory to a bodycomprising: providing a fastener comprising a length of non-elasticmaterial; at least a first end and a second end, and at least twoapertures positioned along the length of said material; one or morefastening objects proximate said first end, said one or more fasteningobjects having at least a first profile and a second profile, whereinsaid first profile has a dimension sized to permit passage through saidapertures and said second profile has a dimension sized to prohibitpassage through said apertures; creating a loop by passing at least onefastening object through an aperture; positioning a portion of the bodyin the loop, either while creating the loop or after creating the loop,pulling said fastening object until said loop has secured said materialto a desired tension. The remaining length of the non-elastic materialis wrapped about the portion of the body to fix the fastening object ina tensioned position, and the fastening object in its tensioned positionis passed through an aperture positioned close to the tensioned positionof said fastening object to secure the fastener in position about theportion of the body.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesdescribed herein. Other embodiments are described in detail herein andare considered a part of the claimed apparatus and methods.

The recitation herein of desirable objects which are met by variousembodiments is not meant to imply or suggest that any or all of theseobjects are present as essential features, either individually orcollectively, in the most general embodiment or in any of its morespecific embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fastener according to the one embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a fastening object as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a fastening object as shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a view of a fastener as shown in FIG. 1 wrapped around objectsto be held together.

FIG. 5 is a view of the fastening object securing the fastener.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a fastener according to another embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a fastener according to another embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 8A depicts a second shape of an aperture applied in embodiments ofthe fastener.

FIG. 8B depicts a third shape of an aperture that can be used inembodiments of the fastener.

FIG. 8C depicts a fourth shape of an aperture applied in embodiments ofthe fastener.

FIG. 8D depicts a fifth shape of an aperture that can be employed inembodiments of the fastener.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a short fastener which can be used forchildren.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an embodiment of a fastener which can be usedfor adults.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the fastener according to the embodimentshowed in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a first end view of the fastener according to the embodimentshowed in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a second end view of the fastener according to the embodimentshowed in FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a fastener of which the fastening objectpassed through the aperture located at the farthest and opposite end ofthe fastener.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a fastener of which the fastening objectpassed through the aperture located near the fastening object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the accompanying figures, the fastener is a devicethat is used to secure delicate elongated objects, such as hair, intobundles. It may also provide an aesthetically pleasing piece of apparelsuch as a bracelet or anklet or choker or necklace.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fastener 100 comprises a length of non-elasticmaterial 101 with at least a first end 103 and a second end 105. Atleast two apertures 107 are positioned proximate said second end 105. Afastening object 109 is positioned proximate said first end 103.

The length of non-elastic material 101 may be chosen from a variety ofsuitable materials. Those materials have certain surfacecharacteristics. The surfaces of the materials are not very smooth orslippery so that they may hold hair into bundles without easily slippingfrom hair. On the other hand, the surfaces may not be so sticky thatthey make the fastener hard to be removed from hair. In embodiments, thecoefficient of friction of the length of non-elastic material 101 mayrange from about 0.1 to about 0.9, or about 0.2 to about 0.7, or about0.3 to about 0.6, relative to glass as measured in accordance withASTM-D1894. Preferably the length of non-elastic material 101 is made ofsilk, although it will be appreciated that other non-elastic materials,such as certain polyesters, rayon, satin with similar flexibility andfeel can be utilized. Moreover, certain synthetic materials, such aspolymers which can be coated or otherwise treated such that they wouldnot be too smooth and not too sticky, also may be used to make thelength of non-elastic material 101.

The dimensions of the length of non-elastic material 101 are a matter ofchoice. It will be appreciated that the longer the length of non-elasticmaterial 101 the more versatile the fastener is, and the greater thenumber of adjacent bundles that can be created. In embodiments, thefastener has a length in a range of about 5 cm to about 120 cm, or about10 cm to about 80 cm, or about 20 cm to about 60 cm. In embodiments, thefastener has a width in range of about 5 mm to about 90 mm, or about 10mm to about 60 mm, or about 15 mm to about 30 mm. In embodiments, thefastener has a thickness in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm, orabout 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, or about 1 mm to about 3 mm. The longfastener 900, shown in FIG. 10, is often configured to be used by adultsand teens. The short fastener 800, shown in FIG. 9, comprises a lengthof non-elastic material 801, and is often configured to be used withchildren, or for use in connection with smaller gatherings of hair, suchas a half pony tail.

In FIG. 1, the length of non-elastic material 101 comprises two ends, afirst end 103 and a second end 105. As will be discussed further, thefastener of the embodiments disclosed herein can in the alternativecomprise more than two ends.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fastener of one embodiment further comprises atleast two apertures 107, or openings. The shape of the opening is notlimited to the circle showed in FIG. 1. It may be an oval, rectangle,square, buttonhole, or any opening known in the art. FIGS. 8A-8D depictnon-limiting examples of suitable shapes of the apertures.

As is shown in FIG. 1, said apertures 107 are positioned at leastproximate said second end 105 in the preferred embodiment, however itwill be appreciated that said apertures 107 can be positioned along theentire length of non-elastic material 101 or along a portion of saidlength of non-elastic material 101. As will be discussed further herein,the number and position of apertures 107 can also impact the versatilityof said fastener and the number of adjacent bundles that can be created.

In embodiments, the fastener 100 further comprises at least onefastening object 109. Referring to FIG. 1, said fastening object 109 ispositioned proximate said first end 103 of said length of non-elasticmaterial 101. The fastening object 109 can be a separate object, such asa stone or bead or toggle or button or other object as is known in theart. The fastening object may be formed from a natural material, asynthetic material, or a combination of a natural material and asynthetic material. Such a separate object is attached to said length ofnon-elastic material 101 by securing means 108 such as a hook and loop,or by thread, adhesive, or by a combination of such methods as is knownin the art. Said fastening object can also comprise a knot or otherconfiguration of fabric, made from a portion of the length ofnon-elastic material 101 or from a separate material tied, glued, sewnor otherwise affixed to said length of non-elastic material 101 as isknown in the art. As shown in FIG. 2, said fastening object 109comprises a first profile 111 with a dimension (d₁) sized to permitpassage through said apertures and a second profile 113 with a dimension(d₂) sized to prohibit passage through apertures. In this way the lengthof non-elastic material is capable of being secured in position once thedesired tension is obtained and the remaining length of material hasbeen wrapped around the bundle, as will be more fully described below.In embodiments, d₁ may be in the range of about 0.2 cm to about 2 cm, orabout 0.4 cm to about 1.5 cm, or about 0.6 cm to 1.0 cm. In embodiments,d₂ may be in the range of about 0.2 cm to 4 cm, or about 0.5 cm to about3 cm, or about 0.7 cm to about 2 cm.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 depict how the fastener is used to bundle objects 115such as hair together. As shown in FIG. 4, an initial loop is created bypassing the fastening object 109 through an aperture 107 positionedalong said length of non-elastic material 101. Bundles of objects 115such as hair are then passed through said initial loop. The fasteningobject 109 is further pulled until the fastener has secured said bundledobjects 115 to a desired tension. The remaining length of saidnon-elastic material is wrapped around said bundled objects 115 untilthe remaining length is exhausted, at which point the fastening object109 reaches its tensioned position, shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5,the fastening object 109 is then passed through an aperture 117positioned adjacent the tensioned position of said fastening object 109to secure the fastener in place about the bundled objects. It will beappreciated that if the aperture 107 positioned closest to the tensionedposition of said fastening object 109 is the same aperture utilized tocreate the initial loop, then the fastening object 109 must be passedthrough said aperture in the same direction as it was when the initialloop was created so as to avoid releasing the fastener from the bundledobjects 115.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the initial loop is created bypassing the fastening object 109 through an aperture 107 which islocated at the farther, opposite end of the fastener. The initial loopis created in such a way that it is the biggest loop that can be made.In another embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the initial loop is created bypassing the fastening object 109 through an aperture 107 which islocated near the fastening object. The loop created in this way is thesmallest loop that can be made. In other embodiments, loops ofintermediate size can be made.

Alternate embodiments of the fastener are possible within the scope ofthe disclosure. For example, FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of thefastener 200 having apertures 207 positioned along the length ofnon-elastic material 201 and fastening object 209 at said first end 203and fastening object 219 at said second end 205. In such aconfiguration, the fastener can be used to create more than one initialloop and therefore more than one bundle of objects, such as hair, can besecured. Fastening object 209 can pass through aperture 217 to createthe initial loop and a first set of bundled objects would be passedthrough this loop. The fastening object 209 is then pulled to a desiredtension. The remaining length of non-elastic material 201 betweenaperture 217 and first end 203 is then wrapped around said first bundleof objects, thereby fixing the tensioned position of said fasteningobject 209. At this point fastening object 209 is passed through theclosest aperture adjacent said tensioned position to secure the fastenerin place about the first set of bundled objects. Fastening object 219can pass through aperture 227 to create an initial loop and a second setof bundled objects would be passed through this loop. The fasteningobject 219 is then pulled to a desired tension. The remaining length ofnon-elastic material 201 between aperture 227 and second end 205 is thenwrapped around said second bundle of objects, thereby fixing thetensioned position of said fastening object 219. At this point fasteningobject 219 is passed through the closest aperture adjacent saidtensioned position to secure the fastener in place about the second setof bundled objects. It will be appreciated that the number and positionof apertures in this embodiment is a matter of design choice and thescope of the description is not limited to the number and position ofapertures as shown in the figures.

FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of the fastener 300 having a length ofnon-elastic material 301 with a first end 303 and a second end 305 and athird end 315. The overall shape of the fastener is a Y-shape. In thisembodiment, multiple initial loops may be formed through which multiplebundles may be passed prior to fixing the fastening object 309 in itstensioned position and passing said fastening object 309 through theclosest adjacent aperture 307 or 317 to secure the fastener about themultiple bundles of objects. It will be appreciated that the fastenermay comprise various combinations of numbers of ends and fasteningobjects and apertures, depending on the particular effect desired insecuring bundles of hair or other objects.

FIGS. 8A-8D show various configurations for apertures. FIG. 8A depictsan oval-shaped aperture 407. FIG. 8B shows an eye-shaped aperture 507with a pair of opposite, pointed ends. In FIG. 8C, a rectangularaperture 607 is shown. FIG. 8D shows the opposite rows of stitching 710on each side of a narrow slot-shaped aperture 707 that resembles abutton hole. FIG. 8D is illustrated with an enlarged slot width forpurposes of clarity and understanding.

FIGS. 10-13 show various views of an elongated embodiment of a fastener900 that uses slot-type apertures 907 and a spherical fastening object909. The length of non-elastic material 901 in this embodiment includesa tapered section 912 proximate the fastening object 909. FIG. 11 showsthe small thickness of the fastener 900 (relative to the width, which isshown in FIG. 10). FIG. 12 shows an end view of the fastener 900 fromthe end that has a fastening object 909. FIG. 13 shows a view from theopposite end.

Among the advantages the fastener provides over the prior art, itsnon-elastic fabric prevents the pulling, creasing and breakage of hairand its multiple apertures provide superior adjustability andversatility of use not only as a hair tie, but a headband, bracelet,necklace or anklet. The uses of the fastener are not limited toaccessories, but may also be used to secure any elongated objectstogether.

While the apparatus and method have been described in detail herein inaccordance with certain preferred embodiments thereof, manymodifications and changes therein may be effected by those skilled inthe art. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications and changes as fall within the spirit and scope ofthe disclosed embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastener, comprising: a length of non-elasticmaterial having a first end and a second end; at least two aperturespositioned along the length of said material; one or more fasteningobjects proximate said first end; said one or more fastening objectshaving at least a first profile and a second profile, wherein said firstprofile has a dimension sized to permit passage through said aperturesand said second profile has a dimension sized to prohibit passagethrough said apertures.
 2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein saidnon-elastic material comprises fabric.
 3. The fastener of claim 2,wherein said non-elastic material comprises silk.
 4. The fastener ofclaim 1, wherein said at least two apertures are positioned proximate tosaid second end.
 5. The fastener of claim 4, wherein said at least twoapertures are positioned along less than the entire length of saidfastener.
 6. The fastener of claim 4, wherein said at least twoapertures are positioned along the entire length of said fastener. 7.The fastener of claim 1, wherein said one or more fastening objects iscylindrical with a circular first profile and a rectangular secondprofile.
 8. The fastener of claim 1, wherein said one or more fasteningobjects comprises stones.
 9. The fastener of claim 1, wherein saidnon-elastic material further comprises a third end, and wherein saidapertures are positioned proximate said second end and said third end.10. The fastener of claim 1, wherein said one or more fastening objectsare proximate said first end and said second end.
 11. A method ofbundling hair together, comprising: bundling a portion of hair together;providing a fastener comprising a length of non-elastic material; atleast a first end and a second end, and at least two aperturespositioned along the length of said material; one or more fasteningobjects proximate said first end, said one or more fastening objectshaving at least a first profile and a second profile, wherein said firstprofile has a dimension sized to permit passage through said aperturesand said second profile has a dimension sized to prohibit passagethrough said apertures; creating a loop by passing at least onefastening object through an aperture; passing said bundle of hairthrough said loop; pulling said fastening object until said loop hassecured said material to a desired tension; wrapping the remaininglength of said non-elastic material about said bundle of hair to fixsaid fastening object in a tensioned position; and passing saidfastening object in its tensioned position through an aperturepositioned close to the tensioned position of said fastening object tosecure said fastener in position about the bundled hair.
 12. The methodof claim 11, wherein the loop is created by passing the fastening objectthrough an aperture located proximate the fastening object.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the loop is created by passing the fasteningobject through an aperture located proximate the second end of thefastener.
 14. A method of fastening an accessory to a body, comprising:providing a fastener comprising a length of non-elastic material; atleast a first end and a second end, and at least two aperturespositioned along the length of said material; one or more fasteningobjects proximate said first end, said one or more fastening objectshaving at least a first profile and a second profile, wherein said firstprofile has a dimension sized to permit passage through said aperturesand said second profile has a dimension sized to prohibit passagethrough said apertures; creating a loop by passing at least onefastening object through an aperture; positioning a portion of the bodyin the loop, either while creating the loop or after creating the loop,pulling said fastening object until said loop has secured said materialto a desired tension; wrapping the remaining length of said non-elasticmaterial about the portion of the body to fix said fastening object in atensioned position; and passing said fastening object in its tensionedposition through an aperture positioned close to the tensioned positionof said fastening object to secure said fastener in position about theportion of the body.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the portion ofthe body comprises a bundle of hair, a wrist, an ankle or a neck. 16.The method of claim 14, wherein the loop is created by passing thefastening object through an aperture located proximate the fasteningobject.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the loop is created bypassing the fastening object through an aperture located proximate thesecond end of the fastener.